Cover letters inspire strong opinions. Yet here’s something most people in the “career” field agree upon: If you don’t know a recruiter’s name — and you can’t ascertain it with a little research — then it’s ok to use a generic greeting such as “Good Morning.”
Yet what if you prefer to use something more personal, like “Dear Recruiter”?
From my vantage point, “Dear Recruiter” feels robotic — as if you’re a factory cranking out boilerplate. It harks back to the quintessence of antiquation: “To Whom It May Concern.” By contrast, “Good Morning” is friendly and puts your reader in a pleasant mood.
And yet, as much as it pains me to say this, the preceding paragraph isn’t a fact. It’s my opinion. There’s simply no consensus as to whether “Dear Recruiter” (or “Dear Hiring Manager”) is appropriate. Indeed, a quick Google search reveals that “Dear Recruiter” is encouraged in some scenarios.
To be sure, it’s still bad form to begin with something overly general, like “Dear HR” or “Dear Facebook Recruiting Department.” But “Dear Recruiter,” dear friend, is ok.
